Our mini-vacation to NY!

We're back.. had a nice few days with the IL's in Lewiston, NY..

which is right near Niagara Falls..

Once you've seen this wonder of the world, (1 of them).. it's pretty..

but personally, I like the time we get to go to the Casino!

As Grace took her 4 hour nap each day, I read, caught up with the sun rays,

and Gary & I had ice cream, lunch & won $$ together..

(just the penny machines..$75 in total :)

 

 

 

Gary's parents are wonderful.. and think the world of Grace..

they are very happy she is doing so well..

here are some pictures from our trip!  Enjoy!

 

  With Noni & Grandpa..

  at the Niagara Aquarium...

With Cousin Johnny Jr... notice Gracie pulling his sweater & Jr. was scared of Grace..

he actually told Noni the next day that Grace "kicked him".. she really just rolled into him.  But she's a toughie.. lol

Me & Grandpa!

 

 Talking shop!

 

  Just resting, Mama!

 

 

We also visited the aquarium together..seemed Grace enjoyed the animals!

I saw a live deer on the side of the road, poking around.. that was cool.

We didn't eat anything too exciting to write up..

"soft serve" ice cream is called "frozen custard".. we had a sundae & I had my black raspberry frozen custard.. delicious!

 

Now that we are back home, my next vacation is warm days, blue ocean, and white sand..  (someday!)

 

 

Grace slept great at Grandpa's & Noni's..with  4 hour naps everyday!

And went to bed her usual bedtime 7-7 :)

The car ride..no sleeping for Grace, and 8 hours was a tough road trip with no sleep...

but overall, she's a little traveler..did great!

 

Grace has been taking steps in the last few days..

with & without her braces on.. she's really ready to just take off.

And the IL's agree with us, the food part..or getting her to eat is a little harder than they thought.. although she did have some mini meatballs in soup.

 

 

A fun time was had by all..but nice to be home!

 

 

Thanks for reading!

love,

pattie & gary, Grace & Maxwell



She really is a Miracle!

yes, i'm talking about Grace.

(the name so fitting!)

Sometimes, I have to hear it from others how far Grace has come..

I know she is doing wonderful, and fantastic..  but then my skepticism

can beat me up.. she's not walking, sitting up by herself, .. or this & that..

Then I have a morning like today!

 

Grace is soo smart & motivated to TRY..

and she's very social.. like her mama!!

 

We had her do another PT evaluation, at Spaulding today down the cape.

And this person has never met Grace.. & was soo impressed.

Grace was holding something in her left hand, and the lady asked her to put it

in her right hand, so she could have her left hand.. she just put it in her right hand..

followed directions to a "T".

 

So for the next 3 months, Grace will be getting PT 2x/week..

once with her current PT (that we love), Laura..

and then down the cape too.. just to give her that extra push..

 

She even took a few steps today with PT, Kristin..

she crossed her feet a little.. but nonetheless took a few steps!

 

 

Kristin was so impressed with her.. she said after reading her past year & half

life..she's amazed she is doing what she is doing.

A true miracle!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to all of YOU, who keep up with us..

love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & Maxwell

Swimming!

Grace is in swimming lessons.. Saturday mornings with Daddy.

this first class is just a "parent & child" class and it's something she

will do every Saturday with her Daddy.

 

This past Saturday was her first class..

Mom was really nervous, as I watched (i didn't want her to swallow water & vomit..she didn't :)

& she did SOOO WELL.. :)

a natural!

 

She dunked her face in the water a few times, and

laughed.. She really does have such a great personality..

 

Here are a few pictures..

 

 In her 'tankini'.. :)  I think we need to get her a full one piece...

 

Getting introduced to her instructor, Greg..

  Sitting on the 'wall' for a jump in...

Greg taking her around the pool..

  Nap time after Swim class.. she was beat!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Proud Mama & Dada moment..

 

 

 

And on Saturday evening, she belly laughed with Auntie Heather..

then Sunday morning, she sat & watched Mama dance to her new favorite

PINK music..and then belly laughed again watching "3 stooges"..

Diversified! :)

 

 

 

 

Thanks for keeping up with us!

we're heading to see Noni & Grandpa, for Memorial Day weekend..

as Gary & I celebrate 5 years of Marriage!

 

 

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & Maxwell

 



Mommy & Me..

Here are some pictures from Mother's day..

 

  Grace is crazy rolling everywhere.. this is how I found her on Mother's Day morning..

 

 

 

And got to have one with Daddy too!!

 

 

 

 

 

A very special Congrats to my cousin Natalie, who had her twin baby girls yesterday, May 14th.. both are doing well..

 

And to my cousin, Ayse.. prayers are with you.. Feel Better!!  Thinking of you!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for keeping up!

Love,

pattie & gary, Grace & maxwell



Happy Birthday Auntie Heather!

One of our very special, Auntie's turned a big(ger) :)

number a few weeks ago..and her darling husband.. invited 4 of her closest

friends over to her house over the weekend, and he hired a personal chef.

The menu was Aunthentic Mexican.

My first time eating Salsa Verde.. delicious!

We got the recipes too..and drank lots of champagne, wine, and margaritas.

Good laughs, good chats, and Great food!!

 

Happy Birthday, Auntie Heather..

 

 

 

And then there's Princess Gracie:

  What a GREAT shot!!  She is always smiling!

 

Hands!!

 

And a picture from Mother's Day morning.. Grace gets to spend time in

our bed with us every morning (i know some people are going to shake their head at that..but it's enjoyable for her & us..she doesn't sleep or need to sleep with us, she's awake, and we are too)..  Gary & I put our hands together, and then I asked Grace to put hers up too..and she did :).

 

She's a wonderful communicator, even though she's actually not talking yet.

She understands everything we say to her..

"Pick up your head, please" (if she starts to sway her head to one side)

She signs, "more" and "all done" at appropriate times.

Our OT has shown her off too..  

we are all impressed at how far she has come

 

 

 

Today, we were back at the dietician..

Grace weighs 18 lbs. 5 oz (she had gone down to 17.6 a month ago)..

so she did great weight gain in a month.

And she is 29" long.. (25% percentile..I think the first time I've heard that word..lol)

 

 

 

Great Mother's Day yesterday..

Happy Mother's Day to all my mom friends..

and all those who have babies as angels

 

I'll post Mommy & Me picture tomorrow.

 

 

Thanks for reading!

Love,

pattie & gary, Gracie & maxwell

 



21 months!

Grace turned 21 months on Friday, May 3rd..

Wow.. time flies, when you're having fun.

She enjoyed a quick visit from her babysitter, Amie..

and her Vevo. Then it was off to "Music Together".. we listen to the songs

everyday, she really enjoys music class!

 

 

  Her stats:  19 lbs. (unofficial) & 29" long..

 

Still a very happy baby; good sleeper!  We are practicing standing up straight on our legs.. Grace is bearing weight on her legs everyday, and getting stronger.

Her sitting up is getting better everyday as well..

 

Grace's new thing is she has found her teeth.. she GRINDS them constantly.

My FIL is a dentist, and he said right now it's okay for her to do it.. it'll probably

help her strengthen her jaw for chewing.

 

On the food front.. Grace tries new foods everyday..and is doing a FANTASTIC

job, picking it up with her fingers.  She is not really into breakfast.. we tried yogurt this am.. and cheerios in milk.. not a fan favorite! lol

 

She still loves her wonton soup..or any soup for that matter.

She recently tried onion soup at pub 99 within the last month, and loved it!

She also had pork fried rice this past week, and loved it!

 

Grace is enjoying going for walks with mom & dad in her BOB stroller..

she sits facing out & smiles, or hides her eyes from the brightness.

 

Her g-tube feeds have been increased to 800 ml's in a 24 hour period, with

us deducting whatever she takes by mouth.

Last week, she took over 100 ml's by mouth in just a couple of days!!

 

Grace drinks from a sippy cup..but her pediasure we've given her a bottle..

and she takes anywhere from 2 to 4 ounces.

 

We are truly blessed.

Grace is doing wonderful!

Healthy & that's all we can ask for!!

 

 

Sorry, it's been awhile that I haven't written..

I could blame the whole FB thing..but sometimes it's just giving you enough to read at one time.  The other thing is I've been in a little 'funk'.. trying to define who I am

besides just a Mom & Wife..

Grace keeps me grounded for sure!

I've been newly elected as a  Fairhaven Town Meeting member..and

had our first meeting yesterday (all day..9-4).. it was quite interesting.

Small town, big politics!  Like many, I'm sure!

 

 

Thanks for reading..

love,

pattie, gary & Gracie & max